This Week: Turkey week is crunch week for food bank

The week leading up to Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for the Sacramento Food Bank. That’s when the charity conducts one of its biggest food giveaways and also its signature fundraiser.

“We do an awful lot in seven days,” said spokeswoman Kelly Siefkin.

First up is the Food Bank’s turkey drop-off day on Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Siefkin said the event is choreographed so closely that it take just 15 seconds to drop off a turkey at the Food Bank headquarters in Oak Park at 3333 Third Ave. Last year, the charity received 6,039 birds.

On Nov. 25, all those turkeys will go out the door to needy families, who will also receive two bags of side dishes. Distribution starts at 8 a.m. and lasts until all the food is gone. There should be plenty to go around, Siefkin said: “There’s no need for people to panic and come out before the sun rises.”

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The biggest event of all – the Food Bank’s annual Run to Feed the Hungry – follows on Thanksgiving Day itself. It draws about 28,000 participants annually and raises more than $850,000, Siefkin said. The Food Bank operates the run itself, so it keeps all the proceeds. For more information, visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

– Mary Lynne Vellinga

Event salutes Gettysburg address anniversary

“Four score and seven years ago” – the historic words that launched the Gettysburg address – will be recited again Tuesday, when the Old City Cemetery hosts a free re-enactment of President Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech to commemorate its 150th anniversary. The president will be portrayed by Wayne Scott, noted Lincoln re-enactor, at the 10 a.m. event at the cemetery at the corner of Riverside Boulevard and Broadway.

Inside the news: The event is sponsored by the Sacramento-based Gen. George Wright Camp 22 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The group is part of a nationwide patriotic and educational organization dedicated to the “boys in blue” who fought for the Union in the Civil War. The Civil War was in full swing on Nov. 19, 1863 when Lincoln delivered his address as part of a dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pa., site of one of the war’s bloodiest and decisive battles.

Info: (916) 448-0811 or (916) 264-7839.

Mercy opens apartments in Shingle Springs

Mercy Housing California is celebrating the opening of a new low-income home development in Shingle Springs on Thursday. Officials with the nonprofit group will hold a ribbon-cutting and reception for Trailside Terrace, 4050 Sunset Lane, a collection of 40 new apartments available to families who earn between 20 percent and 50 percent of the El Dorado County median income. The apartments also offer laundry and play facilities, as well as free, community-wide Wi-Fi.

Behind the news: Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest affordable housing organizations, with projects in 41 states, that serve low-income families, seniors and people with special needs. In the Sacramento region, it offers housing at numerous locations, including the Community Housing complex at Seventh and H streets downtown for special-needs residents and multifamily housing at St. Francis Terrace, 2525 L St.

The inaugural Holy Cross Academy Chili Cook-Off will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Academy, 800 Todhunter Ave., West Sacramento. Tickets are available to the general public (adults only) for $10. Comedian Jack Gallagher will be master of ceremonies. The event will benefit students and needy families throughout the Sacramento area. Various activities are planned, and local restaurants/pubs are scheduled to participate.

Folsom Lake College hosts two speakers Wednesday as part of its fall speakers series. Charlotte Biltekoff, an assistant professor of food science and technology at UC Davis, speaks at noon about the topic of her latest book, “Eating Right in America: The Cultural Politics of Food and Health.” The book looks at the relationship between dietary and social ideals. At 7 p.m., retired physician Ted Christy will discuss the route he took from physics to fixing cars to a career in medicine. Both events are free and open to the public. The speakers will appear at Buckeye Hall. Folsom Lake College is at 10 College Parkway in Folsom.

Info: (916) 608-6691.

MIND Institute workshop focuses on ADHD

The UC Davis MIND Institute resumes its “Minds Behind the MIND” lecture series Wednesday, with a presentation titled “ADHD Grows Up: Transitions to Adulthood.” The free, 5:30 p.m. event will begin with an briefing on the issue by Julie Schweitzer, director or the institute’s ADHD program, before participants are split into two groups – one for parents and family members and another for teenagers and young adults. The session will focus on the therapeutic uses of technology for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, myths about ADHD, and the skills needed for a successful transition into adulthood.

Peak Adventures, the outdoor recreation program for students at Sacramento State, is offering a free clinic at 6 p.m. Thursday on how to enjoy safe and fun cycling in all weather conditions. The two-hour session will review clothing, accessories, safety tips, rules of the road, and minor maintenance scheduling to keep your bike safe and functional. Tips to make your life easier as a commuter will also be shared. Participants are encouraged to bring their bikes if they have specific questions about commuting accessories. The clinic takes place on the Sacramento State campus, 6000 J St.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation is hosting a tree-pruning workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Southgate Library, 6123 66th Ave. in Sacramento. A variety of pruning tools will be shown and discussed in this indoor class. Weather permitting, there will be a walkabout on the library grounds to examine tree structure and pruning.